Matt Released in 1980, recorded in Jamaica on Chris Blackwell’s label, Island Record’s , with quite a few big names included and not only from Jamaica but the U.S.A as well with the Brecker brothers included with Michael on sax and Randy on trumpet with Joe Faddis, Mike Lawrence supporting and Gwen Guthrie being one of the backing vocalists.. Plenty of big Jamaican names also with Ansell Collins, Sly and Robbie, Mikey Chung with a few others from the area as well for Manu Dibango’s Reggae excursion with the album “Gone Clear” which has also been re released on the French label Sonodisc in 1990 under the name “Rasta Souvenir” on two discs which does include Manu’s following Reggae release on Island “Ambassador” on each disc respectively albeit with a slight track order change the albums are still separate in their entirety on each of the discs.

“Full Up” puts the Reggae beat straight to the fore with Manu’s sax riding right over it all on this great album opener being primarily an instrumental with just the backing vocalists repeating the title on occasion. Funk and fairly quick moving is the basis for the highly enjoyable instrumental “Goro City” with some great sax input from Dibango’s sax being all over it and some wonderful band backing. More full on Reggae beat in “Doctor Bird” where we finally get to hear Manu adding those deep vocals and jive he usually does in French and the delight just keeps coming in another great take on his most famous number the Makossa where this time it’s the “Reggae Makossa” and good it is, being delivered in quick time. “Frozen Soul” is vibe time for Manu with a highly similar time to “Full Up” but no matter it is Reggae and the album finishes up with one of its highlights, for me anyway with it s loopy opening and more of those backing vocals and saxes just keeping a firm reminder of the time this music was made in being the late 70’s and early 80’s with that Manu Dibango stamp.

Lovely groover to have on and even if Reggae is not your thing try this as it only fairly mild with its influence and basically it’s still Dibango presenting his style of Cameroonian French influenced African Music but still I really don’t know too many African music fans that don’t like Reggae anyway.

Matt Wakafrika or Africa on the Move was Manu Dibango's first production with Fnac after he changed labels in 1992. He was busy at the time with constanty touring and every week he had to be back for his weekly television show on France 3. Originally from Cameroon but in the late 1950,s Manu moved to France where he has spent the majority of his time since. "Soul Makossa' was his first hit back 1972 and has that song been sampled or just copied much to Michael Jacksons distress. Manu sued him for copyright infringement and he is having another go with Beyonce I believe. The song was" Wanna be Startin' Something" by Michael Jackson was where Manu noticed his Makossa had been placed. Manu plays any manner of saxophone except baritone and he also has a ping on the Vibraphone and for this production as we say down here,'Everyman and his dog" seems to be with him on this album with covers or re vamps of some of the most famous African songs including his own. Even a new composition by Manu which was the title for the album.Guests include ( African first ) Youssou N' Dour ( Senegal),Salif Keita ( Mali),Papa Wemba ( Dem. Rep. of Congo or Zaire),Angelique Kidjo ( Benin).King Sunny Ade ( Nigeria),Toure Kunda (Senegal),Tony Allen (Nigeria),Ladysmith Black Momboza ( Sth Africa),Bonga ( Angola) and the list keeps going but for the western representation we also have Peter Gabriel, Michael Jacksons rythmn section at that time and Sinead O'Connor throws in some background vocals. Recordings took place in Paris, New York and Los Angeles even mixed during the Los Angeles 1994 earthquake. This massive shaking production took a year or more to put together and mix.Now the songs that are included are nearly all African classic tunes eight from the 13 tracks on the album ranging from Soul Makossa, Yousou N' Dour gets to do the revamp "Emma" originally Toure Kunde ( Salif Keita),Pata Pata (Miriam Makeba) is covered and for the western one,Peter Gabriel does a revamp of "Biko" with Ladysmith Black Mombazo.

Youssou N' Dour primarily with Manu begins the album with "Soul Makossa" and is a great lively version with plenty of beat, Manu's sax,a huge backing band and of course Youssou N' Dours wonderful vocals drive it along."Biko" is up next with a quite a nice result. Peter Gabriel sings sections and Ladysmith Black Momboza provide stunning backing vocals for the track. Two instrumentals on the album and Wakafrika is one with what is best described as a beat driven train with the horns over the top. The other instrumental is another of Manu's "Ca Va Chouia" ( revamp) which does contain a very small amount of vocals but primarily it is instrumental with both being exceptional. "Emma" the Toure Kunda hit from Senegal is covered by Salif Keita and he does not quite hit his usual quality and the song is good but not quite. "Homeless" comes along next and who would you get to sing this but Ladysmith Black Mombazo and is quite a nice lively version of the tune."Ami oh "is worth a mention but with the rest of the tracks things do not gel, "Jingo is forgettable as "Pata Pata" and the other tracks that I have not mentioned from the album are not quite there either and the album contained 13 tracks all up.

As often is the case with these style of albums the old saying applies,"Too many Chefs Spoil the Broth" and that is obvious here in places but in others where they do hit the mark the results are wonderful and the good ones you will play over again but for me these days it really is have your finger ready on that skip button for the others.